Royal Inn closed, pending inspection, for unsafe conditions
UPDATE: According to the Columbia Fire Department, Royal Inn’s certificate of occupancy has been revoked until they pass a building inspection.
The uncovered section of the second floor walkway showed signs of serious deterioration, according to Assistant Fire Chief Brad Fraizer. Concrete was crumbling, and the rebar- which provides structural support- was exposed and corroding.
The entire building was shut to because it is not clear if all of the walkways are in the same condition as the section uncovered Monday. The owner must repair the section of walkway and the city must conduct a building inspection before the business can reopen.
ORIGINAL: Authorities were at Royal Inn in Columbia on Monday afternoon for a partial walkway collapse.
Motel employees were conducting routine maintenance and noticed the walkway was in dangerous condition and might be beyond repair, Columbia Fire Department Assistant Chief Brad Fraizer said. Firefighters and police were called out and an inspector was heading to the building to determine whether it should be condemned. Authorities evacuated the structure. Forty-five guests are being relocated.
The walkway had not fully collapsed.
The building was not condemned Monday but officials revoked the structure’s occupancy certificate pending a city-wide inspection, Fraizer said. The city will have to inspect the building again after repairs in order to reissue the certificate.
Look for more on this developing story.
